Southern  nfGimjLUBBABV  52^^^ 


D     000  262  650     5 


HISTORY  AND  PROC4RES8 


MASSACHUSETTS 


STATE  BOAED  OF  AGRICULTUEE 


jFor  t\\t  Jirst  CJuartrr  of  ii  (fTrnturu, 


REPORT     ON     FRUITS, 


AT  THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  EEP..  5.  1878. 


]VrARSHALL  P.  -WILDER. 


1878. 


BOSTON: 

ISanl),  ^&Erg,  &  Co.,  printers  to  tfjc  CommonlDcaltft, 

117  Franklin  Stkeet. 
1878. 


HISTORY -AND  PROGRESS 


MA  S  S  A  C  H  U  S  E  T  TS 


STATE  BOARD  OP  AGRICULTURE^ 


JFor  tijc  Jfirst  ©uartrr  of  a  CTcnturg, 


REPORT     ON     ERUITS, 


AT  THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  FEB.  5,  1878. 


BT 

MARSHALL  P.  WILDER. 


1878. 


BOSTON: 

JSanT),  SlJtrg,  $c  Co.,  PrintetB  to  tfjt  Commontotalllj, 

117  Franklin  Stkeet. 
1878. 


f 


HISTOEY  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  BOAED. 

BY  MARSHALL  P.  WILDER. 


Gentlemen,  —  With  the  close  of  this  session,  the  first 
quarter  of  a  century  in  the  history  of  the  Massachusetts 
Board  of  Agriculture  will  have  terminated.  In  view  of  this 
fact,  and  also  that  only  one  member  of  the  original  Board, 
and  Secretary  Flint,  are  present  with  us  on  this  occasion, 
and  that  he  who  now  addresses  j^ou  will  soon  be  numbered 
among  those  who  will  have  passed  beyond  the  river,  to  work 
with  you  no  more,  I  have  thought  it  proper  to  submit  a  few 
thoughts  in  regard  to  the  history  and  progress  of  the  Board, 
although  at  the  risk  of  repeating  some  things  I  may  have 
stated  before.  The  results  of  our  labors  are  so  fully  set 
fortii  in  the  beginning  of  the  secretary's  report,  and  in  former 
reports,  as  scarcely  to  need  an  additional  remark,  except  by 
way  of  confirmation.  And  what  I  shall  say,  I  beg  may  not 
be  considered  as  valedictory  for  myself  or  for  the  Board : 
God  only  knows  when  the  time  shall  arrive  for  the  utterance 
of  these.  As  for  the  Board,  we  believe  it  will  speak  for 
itself  for  many  years  to  come. 

Anterior  to  its  establishment,  very  little  united  action  had 
taken  place  between  the  agricultural  societies  of  our  own  or 
other  States  of  the  Union  for  the  purpose  of  creating  State 
Boards  of  Agriculture.  But  the  example  of  Massachusetts 
and  a  few  other  Stales  produced  a  change  in  public  sentiment, 
which  has  resulted  in  great  improvement.  True,  there  were 
agricultural  societies  in  many  of  our  States,  some  of  which 
still  live  in  a  green  old  age,  and  are  actively  at  work  with  us ; 
but  there  were  no  State  Boards  of  Agriculture,  with  repi-esen- 
tatives,  constituting,  as  they  now  do,  departments  for  great 
agricultural  influence  and  importance.  It  is  also  true  that 
there  were  many  illustrious  examples  of  men,  who,  as  pio- 
neers, were  endeavoring  to  establish  the  importance  of  sci- 
ence as  especially  applicable  to  agriculture ;    but  it  was  not 


until  the  appointment  of  Henry  Colman  of  Massachusetts  as 
a  State  Commissioner  in  1836,  that  such  improvement  took 
definite  shape ;  and,  notwithstanding  his  reports  were  sus- 
pended in  1840,  they  are  now  regarded  as  treasures  of  great 
practical  knowledge,  especially  those  in  regard  to  the  charac- 
ter of  our  soils,  the  reclamation  of  waste  lands,  and  the  adapta- 
tion of  crops.  These  awakened  a  more  thorough  examination 
into  the  subject ;  and  the  seed  then  sown  finally  germinated, 
and  produced  the  Central  Board  of  Agriculture.  This  was 
organized  jNIarch  20,  1851,  Marshall  P.  Wilder  as  president, 
Henry  W.  Cushman  and  John  W.  Lincoln  as  vice-presidents, 
Allen  W.  Dodge  corresponding,  and  Edgar  K.  Whitaker 
recording  secretaries,  witli  three  delegates  from  each  of  the 
incorporated  societies.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Central  Board 
of  Agriculture,  Jan.  14,  1852,  it  was  resolved  to  petition  the 
Legislature  in  the  following  resolution :  — 

"Resolved,  That,  inasmuch  as  agriculture  is  the  chief  occupation  of 
her  citizens,  the  Commonwealth,  in  the  organization  of  her  government, 
should  be  provided  with  a  department  of  agriculture,  with  offices  coni- 
mensiu'ate  with  tlie  importance  of  the  duties  to  be  discharged,  and  the 
labors  to  be  performed." 

This  action  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  the  present 
State  Department,  which  succeeded  the  Central  Board  of 
Agriculture. 

This  Act  was  passed  in  the  session  of  1852  ;  and  IMr.  Flint 
entered  upon  his  duties  as  Secretarj^  of  the  Board  in  Febru- 
ary, 1853,  which  office  he  has  filled  with  signal  ability  and 
fidelity  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  with  honor  to  the 
Commonwealtli,  having  fully  justified  the  unqualified  in- 
dorsement of  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  president  of  Harvard 
College  at  the  time  of  his  graduation,  wRo  earnestly  recom- 
mended him  for  election. 

One  of  tlie  best  things  which  Massachusetts  has  ever  done 
to  advance  the  cause  of  agriculture  Avas  the  creation  of  this 
Department  of  Agriculture,  and  locating  the  office  of  the  sec- 
retary at  the  Capitol.  Tins  lias  been  a  source  of  great  con- 
venience to  the  public,  as  reliable  information  can  there  be 
obtained  from  the  best  sources,  and  where  tlie  secretary  is 
always  at  liis  post.  Tills  centre  of  information  lias  become 
of  great  importance,  where  persons  have  been  put  in  com- 


munication  ^vith  one  another,  so  as  to  be  able  to  obtain  par- 
ticular classes  of  stock,  positions  on  farms,  as  foremen  &c. 
It  is  a  convenience  to  both  parties.  This,  in  future,  will  be 
more  recocjnized  and  appreciated. 

By  the  Act  constituting  the  State  Board,  all  the   duties 
which   had  been   performed    by  the    secretary  of   state   m 
reo-ard  to  agricultural  matters  now  devolved  on  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Agriculture.     This  new  and  indepen- 
dent   system   of    operations   was   established,   whereby   the 
secretary  became  the  chief  officer  and  organ  of  the  Board, 
on  whom  has  devolved  ever  since  the  duty  of  digesting  the 
returns  of  the  societies,  and  of  preparing  the  annual  volume 
of  the  department.     Thus  the  Board  became  the  organ  of 
the  farming  community,  being  placed   near  and   connected 
with  the  government;  so  that  the  whole  legislation  in  refer- 
ence  to  bounties,  premiums,  and  general  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  the  State,  has  been  controlled  or  influenced  by  the 
department;  and  thus  by  its  operations  it  was  also  brought 
into  friendly  communication  and   reciprocal  relations   with 
the  various  local  agricultural  associations  of  the  Common- 
wealth and   country,  dispensing  to  them,  and  receiving  in 
return,  valuable  information  for  the  benefit  of  the  public 

Few  are  aware  of  the  salutary  influences  which  the  JSlas- 
sachusetts  Board  of  Agriculture  has  exercised  on  the  farming 
community  and  the  public  mind  during  the  period  of  its 
existence.  An  entire  and  complete  change  has  taken  place 
in  public  opinion  with  regard  to  the  paramount  importance 
of  agricultural  education.  There  are  some  here  who  remem- 
ber, at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Board,  the  great 
prejudice  which  existed  against  what  was  then  termed  "  book 
farming  ;"  and  there  were  but  few  papers  or  periodicals  that 
would  boldly  stand  forth  as  champions  of  the  cause. 

But,  amidst  all  the  discouragements,  here  was  sustained 
and  cherished  the  first  general  efforts  for  tlie  establishment  of 
an  agricultural  college,  now  so  favorably  known  and  appre- 
ciated ;  and  here,  ever  since,  it  has  been  fostered  and  encour- 
aged as  one  of  the  most  important  branches  of  education 
receiving  the  patronage  of  the  government,  and  good  will  ot 
the  people.  Almost  an  entire  revolution  has  taken  place  m 
the  received  principles  and  practices  of  cultivation  during  the 
existence  of  the  Board ;  and  much  of  this  can  be  traced  to 


the  investigations  of  its  members  and  the  publication  of 
their  experience,  thus  not  only  teaching  each  other,  but  mak- 
ing the  knowledge  of  one  the  property  of  all. 

And  here  il  may  be  stated,  that,  twenty-five  years  ago,  the 
agricultural  literature  of  the  country  was  far  from  being 
creditable  to  us.  Most  of  the  works  of  ability  were  reprints 
of  English  publications,  and  were  Jiot  generally  read,  or 
adapted  to  our  location.  The  Board  has  contributed  largely 
to  the  improvement  of  the  agricultural  literature  of  the 
country,  raising  it  to  a  much  higher  standard  of  merit,  until 
now  it  stands  on  a  par  with  that  of  any  other  science. 

Among  the  labors  of  the  Board  it  should  also  be  remem- 
bered that  it  early  instituted  au  elaborate  series  of  farm 
experiments. 

It  originated  the  law  for  the  protection  of  sheep,  which 
has  also  been  adopted  by  many  other  States. 

It  effected  legislation  for  the  organization  and  encourage- 
ment of  farmers'  clubs,  which  are  now  so  popular  and  useful. 
Twenty  years  ago  it  was  difficult  to  get  an  audience  of 
farmers  to  listen  to  the  most  distinguished  scientific  men, 
like  Agassiz  and  Johnson :  now  farmers  will  go  great  dis- 
tances to  hear  lectures  from  such  men  upon  agriculture. 

It  originated  the  law  for  the  inspection  of  fertilizers,  and 
appointed  the  State  agricultural  chemist. 

And,  as  a  crowning  glory,  it  arrested  the  progress  of  that 
dreadful  scourge,  the  pleuro-pneumonia,  and  extirpated  it  from 
our  State.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  united  and  persistent 
action  of  the  Board,  it  probably  would  here,  as  in  Europe, 
have  devastated  not  only  our  own,  but  other  States,  at  a  loss 
of  hundreds  of  thousands,  if  not  millions,  of  dollars.  But 
who  that  is  cognizant  of  these  facts  can  doubt  that  this  action 
of  the  Board  with  reference  to  that  disease  was  worth  more 
to  the  State  and  the  country  than  many  times  the  cost  of 
our  department  from  the  beginning,  or  the  expenses  of  sus- 
taining it  longer  than  any  of  us  shall  live  ? 

In  regard  to  the  influence  of  the  Board  we  have  a  striking 
illustration  of  the  power  of  association  as  stated  by  Mr. 
Webster.  "  The  great  truth  of  the  present  generation," 
said  he,  "  is  that  public  improvements  are  brought  about  by 
voluntary  combinations  and  associations."  So  it  has  been  in 
the  operations  of  this  Board. 


It  has  brought  together  from  time  to  time  a  band  of  the 
most  intelligent,  practical,  and  scientific  co-workers  that  the 
State  possessed,  and  it  is  to  this  centralization  that  we  are 
much  indebted  for  the  progress  we  have  made.  If  any  one 
doubts  this,  let  him  examine  the  reports  of  the  Secretary  for 
the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  and  I  think  he  will  have  his 
doubts  removed. 

With  the  Report  now  in  press  there  will  have  been  pub- 
lished twenty-five  yearly  volumes,  containing  more  than 
sixteen  thousand  pages  of  matter  pertaining  to  agriculture 
and  kindred  pursuits,  including  numerous  engravings  of 
cattle,  horses,  swine,  farm-implements,  and  other  illustra- 
tions, some  of  which  are  of  high  character  as  works  of  art. 

These  annual  volumes,  embracing  in  all  an  issue  of  more 
than  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  copies,  have  gone  forth 
not  only  to  the  farmers  of  this  Commonwealth,  but  have 
been  distributed  throughout  our  own  and  foreign  lands. 
They  constitute  a  comprehensive  library  in  themselves, 
embracing  essaj^s,  reports,  and  discussions  on  almost  every 
subject  in  agriculture,  and  are  eagerly  sought  for  with  every 
issue. 

These  reports  have  greatly  promoted  the  objects  for  which 
the  Board  was  established,  and  extended  its  influence  far 
and  wide.  No  similar  publication,  within  my  knowledge, 
contains  more  practical  and  useful  information  for  farmers. 
Complete  sets  have  already  become  valuable,  and  are  more  and 
more  apreciated.  By  these  reports  young  men  have  been  stim- 
ulated to  become  farmers ;  and  by  the  example  of  the  Board, 
and  the  correspondence  of  its  members,  other  States  have  been 
led  to  establish  State  Boards  of  Agriculture  on  our  plan. 

Nor  must  it  be  forgotten,  that,  from  the  first,  the  Massa- 
chusetts State  Board  have  been  the  firm  friends  of  agricul- 
tural education,  and  have  always  co-operated  heartily  for  the 
advancement  and  welfare  of  the  agricultural  college,  whose 
influence  is  now  beginning  to  be  felt,  not  only  at  home,  but 
in  the  far-off  islands  of  Japan,  where,  to  the  honor  of  our 
Commonwealth,  William  S.  Clark,  the  president  of  her  agri- 
cultural college,  has  erected  the  first  agricultural  college 
of  Japan,  and  installed  in  its  faculty  (under  the  auspices 
of  that  nation)  a  president  and  two  professors,  all  of  whom 
were  grafl"ates  of  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural  College. 


8 

Gentlemen,  I  have  spoken  witli  freedom ;  for  I  have 
co-operated  with  this  Board  from  its  inception,  and  am 
familiar  with  its  operations.  I  have  ever  felt  a  deep  interest 
in  tlie  agriculture  of  Massachusetts,  especially  in  the  welfare 
and  usefulness  of  this  department ;  and  I  think  facts  fully 
substantiate  the  statements  I  have  made.  I  have  therefore 
thought  it  but  just  to  submit  to  j'ou  my  views  in  regard  to 
what  it  has  accomplished  in  the  first  quarter  of  a  century 
of  its  existence.  Tliis  I  have  done,  without  any  intention  of 
magnifying  its  importance,  and  only  for  the  purpose  of  ren- 
dering justice  to  those  who  assisted  in  laying  its  foundations, 
and  also  to  those  who  have  labored  with  us  for  its  advance- 
ment. Most  of  its  progenitors  have  been  removed  from  their 
earthly  mission.  Only  one  of  the  original  members  (he  who 
now  addresses  you)  and  Mr.  Secretary  Flint  are  now  con- 
nected with  the  Board.  Nearly  all  the  rest  of  the  twenty 
original  members  constituting  the  Board  have  passed  away. 
If  any  think  I  have  spoken  too  favorabl}'  of  the  Board,  or 
what  it  has  accomplished  in  the  first  twentj'-five  years  of  its 
existence,  let  them  compare  the  condition  of  agriculture  at  the 
time  of  its  organization  with  the  subsequent  improvement,  in 
well-defined  and  systematic  knowledge,  of  the  present  day. 

When  we  consider  the  embarrassments  which  most  institu- 
tions have  to  labor  under  in  their  early  history,  I  tliink  we 
may  regard  the  operations  of  the  Board  as  reasonably  suc- 
cessful. Our  movements  are  in  the  right  direction;  and  in 
the  future  as  in  the  past,  time  will  greath'  promote  the  pros- 
perity and  wealth  of  the  State. 

For  myself,  I  desire  to  be  thankful  that  I  have  been  per- 
mitted to  witness  the  progress  already  made  by  the  Board. 
Soon  all  of  those  who  were  banded  together  at  its  organiza- 
tion will  have  ceased  from  their  labors  on  earth  ;  but  I  rejoice 
that  I  have  lived  to  see  the  doubts  and  opposition  of  that  day 
pass  away,  and  the  Board  receive,  as  it  does,  the  public  favor 
and  the  fostering  care  of  the  government.  But  we  cannot 
stop  here.  JNIuch  has  been  accomplished;  but  greater  results 
are  to  be  attained.  We  have  but  just  entered  the  field  which 
Massachusetts  is  to  occupy  in  the  successful  cultivation  of 
her  lands;  and  we  confidently  believe  the  time  may  not  be 
distant,  when  science  shall  have  improved  the  arts  of  cultiva- 
tion to  its  utmost  extent,  and  we  shall  better  understand  the 


laws  which  govern  it ;  when,  by  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
constituents  and  capacities  of  our  lands,  a  proper  division 
of  labor,  a  wise  selection  of  crops  and  the  constituents  for 
fertilizing  tliem,  we  may  be  enabled  to  compete  favorably 
with  the  richer  lands  of  tlie  West. 

This  review  of  our  work  should  be  satisfactory.  Much  of 
our  progress  is  the  result  of  individual  exertion;  but,  after  all, 
the  grand  motive-power  is  associated  eifort.  Let  us,  then, 
take  fresh  courage,  and  work  right  onward  for  the  advance- 
ment of  our  cause,  thus  receiving  and  disseminating  infor- 
mation for  the  benefit  of  all.  And  as  you  come  up,  from 
year  to  year,  from  all  parts  of  our  Commonwealth,  with  the 
results  of  your  observation  and  experience,  may  you  have 
the  satisfaction  of  believing  that  you  have  done  and  are 
doing  something  to  increase  the  wealth,  happiness,  and  pros- 
perity of  the  people  of  our  beloved  Commonwealth. 

On  motion  of  Major  Phinney  it  was  unanimously 
Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Board  be  presented  to  Col. 
Wilder  for  the  highly  interesting  facts  in  regard  to  the 
history  and  the  operations  of  the  Board  for  the  last  quarter  of 
a  century. 


REPORT    ON    FRUITS. 

BY  MARSHALL  P.  WILDER. 


In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  Board,  I  have  the 
pleasure  to  submit  the  following  Report.  Although  it  has 
been  generally  considered  that  the  climate  of  Massachusetts 
is  somewhat  unfavorable  to  the  cultivation  of  fruits,  except- 
ing the  apple,  it  is  found  that  the  enterprise  and  indomitable 
perseverance  of  her  sons  compel  her  unfertile  soil  to  yield 
some  of  the  finest  fruits  that  are  produced  in  any  part  of  the 
world ;  and  it  is  safe  to  say,  that  nowhere  else  in  the  Union 
are  finer  specimens  of  the  apple,  the  pear,  the  strawberry, 
and  occasionally  other  fruits,  to  be  seen,  than  at  the  exhibi- 
tions of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society.  By  the 
enterprise  and  perseverance  of  the  cultivators  of  Massachu- 
setts, many  of  the  most  popular  varieties  in  our  country  have 
been  raised  from  seed,  constituting  some  of  the  most  desira- 
ble sorts  for  wide  and  general  cultivation. 

With  the  close  of  this  year,  half  a  century  will  have 
passed  since  the  organization  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticul- 
tural Society,  from  which  has  emanated,  more  than  from 
any  other  source,  the  remarkable  extension  of  fi-uit-culture 
which  now  permeates  and  enriches  our  whole  land.  In  few 
things  is  progress  more  apparent  than  in  the  advancement  of 
pomological  knowledge  on  this  continent.  I  have  on  many 
occasions  spoken  of  this ;  but  I  have  thought  it  might  not 
be  inappropriate,  now,  at  the  close  of  the  first  quarter  of  a 
century  in  the  history  and  operations  of  this  Board,  to  allude 
again  to  the  remarkable 

EXTENSION     OF     FRUIT-CULTUBE,    AND    THE     IMMENSE    CROPS    OF    OUR 

COUNTRY. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  that  society,  the  cul- 
tivation of  fruits  for  the  market,  or  for  exportation,  was 
limited  to  a  few  states.     In  tlie  year  1816  Mr.  Coxe,  the  first 


11 

great  American  pomologist,  thought  the  fine  apple-growing 
section  bounded  by  the  Mohawk  River  in  the  North,  and  the 
James  River  in  the  South.  Fruit-growing  in  this  State  was 
confined  principally  to  apples  and  peaches.  But  yevy  few  of 
the  latter  found  their  way  to  the  markets  of  the  North  ;  while 
strawberries  and  other  small  fruits  were  scarcely  to  be  seen, 
except  in  the  locality  where  they  were  raised. 

Now,  the  culture  of  fruits  has  extended  from  Canada  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific 
coast.  Almost  every  steamer  from  New  York  for  Liverpool 
or  London,  in  the  fall  and  winter  months,  takes  apples,  vary- 
ing from  five  hundred  to  three  thousand  barrels.  Shipments 
have  been  made  from  other  ports ;  and,  as  late  as  last  May, 
there  were  fifteen  hundred  bairels  sent  to  England  from 
Philadelphia.  In  December  last  ninety  thousand  barrels  of 
American  apples  were  landed  at  Liverpool.  These  exports 
have  varied  much  in  yearly  amounts,  occasioned  by  scarce  or 
abundant  seasons.  In  1861  the  amount  was  only  $269,000 ; 
in  1871  it  was  #509,000  ;  while  for  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1877,  it  amounted  to  $2,937,025,  —  as  kindly  furnished  me 
by  Dr.  Young,  chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Statistics,  —  showing 
an  increase  of  more  than  five  hundred  per  cent  in  five  years. 
Very  little  difficulty  is  experienced  in  the  winter  months ;  but 
arrangements  have  been  made  to  ship  in  warm  weather  by 
vessels  with  refrigerator  compartments. 

As  the  refrigerating  process  becomes  more  and  more  per- 
fect, it  will  aid  lai'gely  the  exportation,  not  only  of  apples, 
but  of  more  delicate  fruits.  Pears,  peaches,  and  grapes  have 
been  sent  to  England  in  good  order ;  and  it  is  confidently 
expected  that  American  peaches  will  soon  be  well  known  in 
the  markets  of  England. 

How  great  the  progress  !  Massachuf^etts,  in  fruit-culture 
as  well  as  in  other  departments  of  educational  and  industrial 
life,  has  been  a  great  leader;  and  from  her  has  emanated,  in 
the  early  history  of  American  jiomology,  more  than  from  any 
other  source,  the  wide-spread  interest  that  has  distinguished 
our  land. 

Now,  Canada,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Kansas,  Nebras- 
ka, California,  Oregon,  and  other  new  States  and  Territories, 
where  the  cultivation  of  fruits  had  scarcely  commenced 
when  this  Board  was  established,  liave  made  exhibitions  of 


12 

fruit  at  the  various  sessions  of  the  American  Pomological 
Society  in  Richmond,  Boston,  Chicago,  and  at  the  Centen- 
nial, which  have  astonished  tlie  world  with  the  progress  made. 
Thirty  years  ago,  when  this  society  was  formed,  the  area  of 
fruit-culture  and  the  value  of  our  fruits  was  so  limited,  that 
it  was  not  thought  worth  while  to  collect  the  statistics. 
Then  many  states,  Canada,  and  Nova  Scotia,  had  given  but 
little  attention  to  fruit-culture,  except  that  of  apples.  These 
and  other  sections  were  deemed  too  far  north  for  successful 
fruit-cultivation.  Now  they  produce  large  quantities  of  fine 
fruits,  even  in  the  cold  northern  regions ;  the  Nova  Scotia 
Society  having  received  four  medals  from  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  in  London,  and  the  Ontario  Society,  at  the 
quarter  Centennial  session  in  Boston  in  1873,  the  Wilder 
Medal,  for  the  best  collection  of  fruits. 

The  estimate  by  the  government  for  the  Centennial,  last 
year,  furnished  the  following  statistics  of  the  fruit-culture  of 
our  country :  — 

The  number  of  acres  under  cultivation  in  orchards,  vines, 
and  small  fruits,  is  estimated  at  4,500,000.  The  number  of 
trees  is  estimated  as  follows:  apples,  112,000,000;  pears, 
28,260,000 ;  peaches,  112,270,000  ;  grapes,  141,260,000 ;  total, 
393,790,000.  The  estimated  value  of  fi-uit  products  is, 
apples,  $.50,400,000  ;  pears,  $14,180,000 ;  peaches,  $56,135,000 ; 
grapes,  $2,118,900 ;  strawberries,  $5,000,000 ;  other  fruits, 
$10,432,800  ;  making  a  grand  total  of  $138,216,700,  or  nearly 
equal  to  one-half  of  the  value  of  our  average  Avlieat-crop. 
California,  to  say  nothing  of  figs,  oranges,  olives,  and  almonds, 
has  sixty  thousand  acres  of  vineyards,  and  forty-three  mil- 
lions of  vines  yielding  anniuiUy,  besides  grapes  and  raisins  for 
the  market,  ten  millions  of  gallons' of  wines,  to  which  may  be 
added  the  wines  of  Missouri,  Ohio,  and  other  states ;  the 
whole  annual  wine  product  being  fifteen  millions  of  gallons. 

The  following  are  a  few  illustrations  of  the  immense  quan- 
tities of  fruits  which  are  sent  to  market  in  addition  to  what 
is  consumed  at  liome. 

Of  strawberries,  there  were  received  in  one  day  in  the 
New- York  market,  at  tlie  height  of  the  season,  from  all 
sources,  seven  thousand  crates, — more  than  ten  thousand 
bushels.  The  crop  of  peaches  raised  in  tliis  country  is  so 
enormous   that   we   hardly   dare   state   the    quantity.     The 


13 

largest  crop  was  in  1875 ;  and,  on  the  peninsula  of  Delaware 
and  Mar}'liuul  alone,  it  was  estimated  at  between  seven  mil- 
lion and  eight  million  baskets; 

From  California,  there  were  sent  east,  in  1876,  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  car-loads  of  fruit,  of  four  hundred  bush- 
els each. 

The  increase  of  strawberry  culture  in  the  vicinity  of 
Norfolk,  Va.,  is  astonishing,  completely  heading  tlie  page  of 
horticultural  progress.  Tiie  shipments  this  year  have  been 
over  three  millions  of  quarts.  There  were  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand pickers  in  the  field  in  one  day.  One  grower  had  a 
hundred  and  eighty-five  acres.  To  Boston  alone  there  have 
been  shipped  this  year  11,547  crates,  of  forty-five  quarts 
each,  or  more  than  sixteen  thousand  bushels. 

The  increase  in  the  crops  of  apples  in  New  York,  Michi- 
gan, and  the  more  Western  States,  is  wonderful. 

From  New  York,  it  is  estimated,  that,  in  abundant  years, 
a  million  and  a  half  of  barrels  are  exported  in  addition  to 
those  consumed  at  home.  One  county,  it  is  said,  received 
one  million  a  year  of  dollars  for  apples  sold ;  a  single  firm 
at  Boston  receives  from  that  State  from  thirty  thousand  to 
forty  thousand  barrels  of  apples  per  year. 

The  immense  collection  of  fruit  shown  at  the  Centennial 
Exposition  last  year,  surpassing  even  the  great  exhibitions 
of  the  American  Pomological  Society  at  Boston  and  Chicago, 
deserves  mention  here.  One  of  the  judges  writes  me,  "I 
know  that  the  judges  examined  over  twelve  thousand  dishes 
of  fruit  during  the  week,  commencing  the  10th  of  September, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  entire  exhibition  during  the 
season  reached  the  grand  number  of  over  sixty  thousand 
dishes  and  over  four  hundred  thousand  specimens." 

In  view  of  the  wonderful  progress  which  has  already  been 
made,  we  begin  to  realize  the  great  importance  of  American 
pomology ;  nor  should  we  forget,  as  among  the  great  bene- 
fits of  fruit-culture,  the  employment  of  thousands  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  or  the  immense  amounts  paid  for 
freiglit  on  fruits  to  railroads,  steamboats,  &c.,  and  the  profits 
to  dealers. 

But  who  can  estimate  the  amazing  quantities  of  fruits 
that  are  to  be  produced  on  this  continent,  when  the  lands 
suited  to  fruit-culture  are  brought  into  use !      Look  at  the 


14 

vast  amount  of  these  in  the  eastern  slope  of  our  country, 
and,  still  more  wonderful,  the  land  on  the  Pacific  slope  !  Of 
these,  California  alone  has  a  territory  eight  hundred  miles  in 
length  and  two  hundred  miles  in  breadth,  —  three  times  as 
large  as  all  of  the  New-England  States,  four  times  as  large 
as  the  State  of  New  York  or  Pennsylvania,  —  having  millions 
of  acres  for  fruit-cultivation. 

Some  have  feared  that  there  might  be  an  over-production 
of  fruit ;  but  the  whole  crop  may  now  be  saved  and  utilized 
by  the  new  methods  which  are  being  constantly  invented  for 
curing  and  distributing  this  surplus.  In  fruit  districts  large 
amounts  of  capital  are  invested  in  establishments  for  the  dry- 
ing and  canning  of  fruits,  which  promise  to  put  the  surplus 
of  abundant  seasons  in  condition  for  preservation  till  wanted 
for  consumption  or  exportation.  Some  of  these  are  yet  to  be 
tested ;  but  no  doubt  exists  that  we  shall  eventually  thus 
utilize  our  fruits,  and  make  them  not  only  profitable,  but  a 
■  source  of  increasing  revenue. 

The  perfection  now  attained  in  the  drying  and  canning 
process  —  possessing  the  great  advantage,  for  transportation, 
of  reducing  the  weight  three-fourths  or  more  by  the  removal 
of  water,  and  rendering  it  capable  of  shipment  to  all  climes, 
and  of  being  preserved  perfectly  for  years  —  will ,  in  all  proba- 
bility, overcome  this  difiiculty,  which  only  occurs  on  bearing 
and  abundant  jeais.  The  demand  abroad  for  dried  fruits  is 
very  large,  and  is  daily  increasing.  The  exports  for  the  year 
ending  June  30,  1877,  were  14,318,052  poiuids ;  and,  if  they 
can  be  afforded  at  a  little  less  price,  it  is  thought  it  would 
be  enormous.  England,  Germany,  and  Australia  would  be 
great  purchasers.  Besides,  we  are  constantly  inventing  new 
methods  for  preserving  fruits  by  preparations  in  various 
nuti-itious  and  elegant  forms,  which  might  absorb  our  abun- 
dant crops,  and  take  the  place  of  those  unhealthy  preserves 
and  sweetmeats  in  which  our  markets  abound,  and  Avhich  are 
so  injurious  to  the  health  of  our  people. 

By  the  production  of  new  varieties  from  seed,  we  have  not 
only  secured  native  kinds  adapted  to  every  section  of  our 
country,  but  varieties  which  have  prolonged  the  season  of 
fruits  in  some  sections,  either  by  early  or  late  kinds,  for  one 
or  more  months.  Especially  is  this  to  be  seen  in  tlie  peach, 
grape,  and  strawberry ;  so  that  many  of  our  markets  are  sup- 
plied for  a  much  longer  period  than  ever  before. 


15 

By  the  introduction  of  early  peaches,  the  season  for  this 
fruit  has  been  advanced  nearly  a  month.  From  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia  shipments  were  made  last  year  to  northern 
markets  as  early  as  May  25 ;  and,  by  a  wise  selection  of  early 
and  late  peaches,  Mr.  Berckmans,  president  of  the  Georgia 
Horticultural  Society,  states  that  peaches  may  now  be  had 
from  May  to  November.  Similar  illustrations  might  be  given 
of  the  prolongation  of  the  season  of  the  strawberry,  the 
grape,  and  the  pear,  in  our  markets;  those  of  the  north 
being  now  supplied  with  the  strawberry  from  the  first  of 
May  to  the  middle  of  July,  and  with  the  grape,  the  pear, 
and  the  apple,  from  the  first  of  July  until  April  or  May. 
And  why  may  not  those  who  have  the  means  supply  their 
tables  with  fruits  in  some  form  through  the  year?  Some  of 
us  already  enjoy  this  luxury,  beginning  with  the  strawberry, 
and  following,  in  succession,  with  the  other  small  fruits,  the 
grape,  the  pear,  and  the  apple ;  thus  furnishing  a  circle  of 
fruits  which  delights  the  eye,  gratifies  the  taste,  improves 
the  health,  and  crowns  oui-  daily  meals  tlu'oughout  the  year. 

FRUITS  FOR  MASSACHUSETTS. 

But  to  confine  our  observations  to  Massachusetts.  I  would 
state,  that,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  new  seedling  varieties, 
the  same  standard  sorts  as  have  been  mentioned  in  previous 
reports  still  continue  to  be  most  prominent  for  the  market. 

In  regard  to  those  best  adapted  to  the  various  sections  of 
the  State,  I  would  remark,  that  by  dividing  the  State  into 
three  sections,  having  Boston,  Worcester,  and  Springfield  as 
their  centres,  we  may  arrive  at  pretty  correct  conclusions  as 
to  the  fruits  most  approved  of  for  general  cultivation. 

EASTERN   DIVISION. 

Apples.  —  Summer:  Large  Early  Bough,  Ked  Astrachan,  and  Wil- 
liams. Autumn:  Gravenstein,  Porter,  Foundling,  Holdeii  Pippin  or 
Fall  Orange  of  Downing,  Mother,  Lyscom,  Hubbardston  Nonesuch,  and 
Cogswell.  Winter:  Baldwin,  Rhode-Island  Greening,  Roxbiu-y  Russet, 
Hunt  Russet,  King  of  Tompkins  County,  Northern  Spy  (strong  soil  and 
high  culture).  Sweet  Apples:  Pumpkin  Sweet,  Ladies'  Sweet,  Danvers 
Winter,  Tolman  Sweet,  Pound  or  Lyman  Sweet.  Many  other  varieties 
succeed  well,  but  are  only  gi'own  in  small  quantities;  such  as  the  Fa- 
meuse,  Garden  Royal,  Maiden's  Blush,  Minister,  and  Washington  Straw- 
berry (a  fine  variety). 


16 

Pears.  —  Early:  Doyenn^  d'fite,  Bevirre  Giffard,  Clapp's  Favorite, 
Brandywine,  Manning's  Elizabeth.  Clapp's  Favorite  surpasses  others  of 
its  season  in  size  and  beauty,  and  is,  ■withal,  of  fine  quality,  everyn'here 
increasing  in  popularity.  Autumn :  Bartlett,  Belle  Lucrative,  Beurre 
Bosc,  Beurre  Hardy,  Beurre  Superfine,  Beurre  Clau-geau,  Doyeund  Bous- 
sock.  Doyenne  du  Cornice,  Duchesse  d'Angoiileme  on  Quince,  Goodale, 
Howell,  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey  on  Quince,  Mei-riam,  Paradis  d'Au- 
tomne,  Seckel,  Sheldon,  St.  Michel  Archange,  Souvenir  du  Congrfes  (a 
very  handsome,  large  pear,  ripening  quite  as  early  as  the  Bartlett),  Ur- 
baniste  on  Quince.  Late  Autumn  or  Winter:  Beune  d'Anjou,  Dana's 
Hovey  (small,  very  rich,  comparing  favorably  with  the  Seckel  in  quali- 
ty), Josephine  de  Malines  (as  late  regarded  with  favor),  Lawrence,  Win- 
ter Nelis  (fine,  but  too  small  for  market).  Cooking:  Vicar  of  Winkfield 
(on  rich,  warm  soils,  with  care  in  thinning  :  a  good  dessert  variety), 
Catillac,  Uvedales,  St.  Germain  or  Pound.  Netv  Varieties:  The  Mount 
Vernon  (fine,  late  russet  pear)  is  regarded  wdth  favor.  The  same  may 
be  said  of  Clajjp's  (No.  22,  now  Frederick  Clapp),  also  of  the  President 
and  Admu-al  Farragut,  raised  by  the  late  Dr.  S.  A.  Shurtleif.  The 
Emile  d'Heyst  is  a  fine  foreign,  rare  variety.  Souvenir-  du  Congrfes  is  a 
very  beautiful,  large  pear,  quite  as  early  as  the  Bartlett.  The  Beuri'e 
Diel  and  Flemish  Beauty,  like  the  White  Doyenne,  once  so  popular, 
are  being  discarded  on  account  of  cracking  (occasionally  they  are  aa 
fine  as  ever).  The  orchards  of  Massachusetts,  especially  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State,  abound  in  fine  varieties  of  the  pear.  The  above 
constitute  the  principal  poprdar  varieties  in  market;  but,  of  all  the 
sorts  introduced  within  the  last  fifty  years,  no  kind  surpasses,  in  its  com- 
bined characteristics  of  excellence,  the  Beurre  d'Anjou.  It  increases  in 
popularity  every  year,  and  with  proper  care  is  suscei)tible  of  being  kept  in 
fine  condition  for  two  or  three  months.  Of  the  thousand  or  more  varie- 
ties which  I  have  proved  in  the  forty-six  years  of  experience,  no  other 
has  given  me  so  much  satisfaction.  It  is  also  formd,  by  the  catalogues  of 
the  American  Pomological  Society,  to  succeed  well  in  more  tlian  thirty 
of  our  States  and  Territories.  And  I  think  I  may  be  allowed  to  say, 
without  personal  merit  or  motive,  if  I  have  done  nothing  else  for  the 
pomology  of  our  country,  that  the  introduction  of  this  pear  thirty-eight 
years  ago  was  a  blessing  to  our  land. 

Grapes.  —  Few  new  varieties  have  been  introduced  of  late.  Those 
old  sorts  most  approved  of  around  Boston  and  in  the  eastern  section  of 
the  State  are  the  Hartford,  Concord,  Creveling,  Delaware,  Diana,  Luidley 
(Rogers  No.  9),  Massasoit  (Rogers  No.  3),  Wilder  (Rogers  No.  4).  Barry 
(Rogers  No.  43)  is  a  fine  kind,  similar  to  the  Wilder  in  size,  appearance, 
and  quality.  There  are  a  few  new  varieties  which  are  regarded  as  giving 
good  promise;  among  which,  especially,  is  to  be  mentioned  Moore's  Early, 
a  seedling  of  the  Concord.  It  is  very  prolific  and  constant  in  crop,  ripen- 
ing fully  two  weeks  before  the  Concord,  growing  beside  it.  The  bimch  is 
large  and  handsome;  berry  larger  than  the  Concord,  and  equal  in  quality. 
It  has  been  exliibited  for  several  years  before  the  Massachusetts  Horticul- 
tural Society,  and  was  awarded  last  fall  a  prize  of  sixty  dollars  for  the 
best  new  seedling  grape.    It  is  considered  a  valuable  acquisition  for  the 


17 

north.  The  Worden,  a  new  native  variety,  ripening  earlier,  and  con- 
sidered of  better  quality,  than  the  Concord,  by  Mr.  Iladweu  of  Worcester 
and  Jlr.  Adams  of  Springfield,  is  being  introduced  around  Boston.  The 
Champion,  as  an  early  grape,  is  attracting  some  attention,  ripening  a 
■week  before  the  Hartford,  of  fair  quality,  very  hardy,  vigorous,  and  pro- 
lific. Hon.  E.  W.  Bull,  the  originator  of  the  Concord,  Hon.  George 
Haskell  of  Ipswich,  and  several  other  gentlemen,  each  presented  seedling 
varieties  at  the  exhibition  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society, 
some  of  which  are  of  good  promise. 

Stkawuekries.  —  New  varieties,  some  of  excellent  character,  are 
coming  to  notice  every  year.  The  older  kinds  that  carry  off  the  prizes  of 
the  JIassachusetts  Ilorticultm-al  Society  are  Charles  Downitig,  Jucunda, 
Hovey's  Seedling  (now  forty  years  old;  being  the  first  successful  attempt 
at  improving  the  strawberry).  President  Wilder,  Seth  Boyden,  Triomphe 
de  Gand,  and  Wilson's  Albany.  The  last  is  not  regarded  as  of  good 
quality,  but  is  valuable  for  its  productiveness.  Among  the  new  varieties 
which  are  attracting  attention  may  be  named  the  Belle,  Caroline,  and 
Hei-vey  Davis 

CENTKAL   DIVISION. 

From  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Worcester-county  Horticultiu-al  Society, 
a  society  second  only  to  the  Massachusetts  for  wealth,  activity,  and  influ- 
ence in  New  England,  it  will  be  seen  that  most  of  the  fruits  grown  in 
the  eastern  section  of  the  State  are  alike  successful  in  the  central.  Iilr. 
Hadwen,  our  associate  member,  reports  the  following  :  — 

Apples.  —  Summer:  Red  Astrachan,  Williams,  Duchess  of  Oldenburg, 
and  Sweet  Bough.  Autumn:  The  Gravenstein,  Porter,  Twenty  Ounce, 
Hubbardston  Nonesuch,  Cogswell,  Maiden's  Blush,  Pumpkin  Sweet, 
Leland  Spice.  Winter:  Baldwin,  Rhode-Island  Greening,  Yellow  Bell- 
flower  (on  warm,  rich  soil),  Ladies'  Sweet,  Leicester  Sweet,  Koxbury 
Russet.  He  also  regards  with  favor  the  Sutton  Beauty,  Worcester  Spy, 
Foundling,  Washington  Strawberry,  Mother  Apple,  Holden  Pippin, 
McLellan,  Tetofsky,  Sterlmg,  Washington  Royal  or  Palmer  Greening, 
("  having  as  many  desirable  qualities  as  any  apple  "),  nearly  all  of  which 
originated  in  Worcester  County,  and  are  of  excellent  quality,  yielding 
abundant  crops.  The  soil  and  climate  of  Worcester  Coimty  are  especially 
adapted  to  fruit-culture,  and  has  long  been  celebrated  for  the  apples  it  has 
produced  fi-om  seed,  such  as  the  Hubbardston  Nonesuch,  Holden  Pijjpiu 
or  Fall  Orange  of  Downing,  Mother,  Washington  Royal  or  Palmer 
Greening,  Sutton  Beauty,  Foundling,  Worcester  Spy,  Leicester  Sweet, 
and  probably  the  Twenty  Ounce  or  Cayuga  Red  Streak.  Mr.  Hadwen,  in 
his  excellent  essay  on  the  apple,  states  that  the  cultivation  of  the  apple 
has  long  been  an  important  interest  in  AVorcester  County ;  the  money- 
value  received  in  1S76  for  apples  exported,  probably  exceeding  the  value 
of  any  other  product. 

Peaks.  —  Nearly  all  the  sorts  named  in  the  list  of  approved  kinds  for 
Boston  and  the  Eastern  Division  are  alike  adapted  to  the  central  section 
of  the  State.  Reference,  therefore,  may  be  had  to  the  list  ah-eady  given. 
Mr.  James  Draper,  an  intelligent  nurserj'mau  of  Worcester,  in  his  essay 


18 

on  the  pear,  regards  with  special  favor  Clapp's  Favorite,  Bartlett,  Shel- 
don, Beurre  d'Anjou,  Beiirre  Bosc,  Belle  Lucrative,  Lawrence,  Duchesse 
d'Angoideme,  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey,  Doyenne  du  Cornice,  the  three 
last  named  on  quince. 

Grapks. — Most  of  the  grapes  which  succeed  elsewhere  at  the  north 
are  on  trial  here.  The  most  noticeable  old  and  popular  sorts  ai'e  the 
Concord,  Hartford,  Delaware,  Diana,  Eumelan,  some  of  Rogers's  Hy- 
brids, and  the  AVorden,  originating  in  AV'estern  Xew  York. 

STR.\wist;RKiES. — The  "  Essay  on  the  Strawberry"  of  Mr.  William 
H.  Earle,  an  eminent  cultivator,  states  that  the  most  profitable  kinds  are 
the  Charles  Downing,  Jucunda,  and  Wilson's  Albany.  Amateurs  are 
growing  all  the  new  varieties.  Of  the  profits  of  strawberry  culture  Mr. 
Earle  remarks,  "If  one  takes  interest  in  the  business,  he  will  be  surprised 
at  the  possible  results.  On  about  three  acres  of  land  I  realized  a  gross 
income  of  a  little  over  two  thousand  dollars." 


■WESTERN   DIVISION. 

Mr.  John  W.  Adams,  an  intelligent  cultivator  of  Springfield,  regards 
the  following  as  leading  sorts  :  — 

Apples.  —  Sutnmer :  Red  Astrachan,  Duchess  of  Oldenbm-g.  A  utumn  : 
Porter,  Graven.stein.  Winter:  Baldwin,  Hubbardston  Nonesuch,  Tomp- 
kins County  King,  jSTorthern  Spy,  Rhode-Island  Greening.  Sweet  Apples : 
Sweet  Bough,  Orange  Sweet,  Talman  Sweet. 

Pears.  —  Summer:  Doyenne  d'Ete,  Manning's  Elizabeth,  Clapp's 
Favorite,  Bartlett,  Belle  Lucrative,  Doyenne  Boussock,  Duchesse  d'An- 
gouleme,  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey,  Onondaga,  Seckel,  Beurre  Bosc,  Law- 
rence, and  Winter  Nelis. 

Grapes.  —  Tiie  grape-culture,  Mr.  Adams  remarks,  is  still  confined  to 
a  few  varieties  which  have  proved  themselves  best  adapted  to  this  locality. 
Among  those  classed  for  hardiness,  vigor,  and  producti\eness  he  names 
Concord,  Clinton,  Champion,  Hartford,  Ives,  Martha,  and  Worden.  He 
regards  tlie  Champion  or  Talman,  which  is  the  same,  as  the  best  very 
early  grape,  and  the  AVorden  as  much  prized,  and  earlier  than  the 
Concord.  Of  the  Concord,  Mr.  Adams  remarks,  "A  smgle  vine,  eight 
years  old,  on  my  own  place,  allowed  to  grow  at  random,  ripened  this  year 
a  quantity  estimated  to  exceed  three  thousand  bunches,  equalling  in 
sweetness  and  flavor  those  that  came  from  the  South." 

Strawberries.  —  Mr.  Adams  states  that  the  cultivation  of  the  Straw- 
berry is  increasing.  The  kinds  most  approved  of  are  Charles  Downing, 
Col.  Cheney,  Kentucky,  Nicanor,  Seth  Boyden  (No.  30),  and  Triomphe  de 
Gand.  The  Duncan  is  attracting  attention  on  account  of  its  earliness 
and  richness,  and  the  Monarch  of  the  West  for  its  size  and  productive- 
ness. 

TDE    PRESERVATION   AND    RIPENING   OP    FRUITS. 

In  regard  to  the  preservation  and  ripening  of  fruits  there 
is  very  little  new  to  be  reported.  The  conditions  of  success 
are   now  pretty  well    understood.     Our  farmers  who   raise 


19 

apples  in  large  quantities  know  how  to  do  it ;  but  with  deli- 
cate fruits,  such  as  the  pear  and  grape,  more  care  is  requi- 
site. 

The  ripening  of  fruit  depends  on  saccharine  fermentation  : 
this  is  followed  by  other  fermentations,  as  the  vinous  and 
acetous.  To  prevent  these,  and  preserve  fruit  in  all  its 
beauty,  freshness,  and  flavor,  the  temperature  must  be  uni- 
form, and  kept  below  the  degree  at  which  the  fermentation,  or 
ripening  process,  commences.  Mr.  llobert  Manning  in  his 
prize  essay  many  years  ago  said,  "  The  ripening  of  fruit  is 
the  completion  of  the  chemical  process  Viy  wIiIlIi  ;-.tarch  is 
transformed  into  sugar,  and  is  the  first  step  toward  fermenta- 
tion or  decay :  therefore  whatever  promotes  fermentation  will 
hasten  the  ripening ;  whatever  retards  fermentation  will  tend 
to  its  preservation." 

The  conditions  of  success  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows : 
The  perfect  control  of  temperature,  light,  and  moisture.  Nu- 
merous structures  have  been  built  both  in  our  own  and  other 
countries  for  this  purpose;  and  all  experience  shows  that 
these  conditions  must  be  complied  with,  or  success  cannot  be 
attained :  hence  these  apartments  must  be  cool,  and  con- 
structed so  as  to  exclude  at  pleasure  the  external  atmosphere, 
which  starts  fermentation.  After  many  years  of  experience, 
both  with  and  without  the  use  of  ice,  I  have  adopted  a  house 
built  in  a  cool,  shady  aspect,  with  door  on  the  north,  and 
with  a  thoroughly  drained  and  cemented  cellar  whose  win- 
dows may  be  opened  or  closed  at  pleasure.  In  this  way  I 
am  enabled  to  keep  my  late  fall  and  winter  pears  until  Feb- 
ruary or  March  in  good  condition.  Apples  may  be  kept  at  a 
lower  temperature  than  pears,  say  thirty-four  to  forty  de- 
grees. In  such  a  cellar,  our  associate  member,  Mr.  John  F. 
Brown  of  Lunenburg,  has  kept  Baldwins  to  the  middle  of 
June,  when  he  has  realized  as  high  as  from  six  to  nine  dollars 
per  barrel.  ]\Ir.  Brown  barrels  his  apples,  and  places  them 
immediately  in  his  cellar,  where  he  has  control  of  the  tem- 
perature. 

Late  fruits  may  remain  on  the  trees  until  severe  frosts 
are  feared,  but  should  be  gathered  with  great  care.  Sum- 
mer pears  should  be  picked  some  days  before  tlie  ripening 
process  commences.  A  summer  pear  ripened  upon  the  tree 
is  o-enerally  inferior.     In  respect  to  the  latter  JNIr.  Patrick 


20 

Barry  has  so  aptly  expressed  my  own  opinion,  that  I  use  his 
language  :  "  The  process  of  ripening  on  the  tree,  which  is  the 
natural  one,  seems  to  act  upon  the  fruit  for  the  benefit  of  the 
seed,  as  it  tends  to  the  formation  of  woody  fibre  and  farina. 
When  the  fruit  is  removed  from  the  tree,  at  tlie  commence- 
ment of  ripening,  and  placed  in  a  still  atmospliere,  the  nat- 
ural process  seems  to  be  counteracted ;  and  sugar  and  juice 
are  elaborated  instead  of  fibre  and  farina."  Thus  pears 
which  become  mealy,  and  rot  at  the  core,  if  left  on  the  tree 
to  ripen,  are  juicy,  melting,  and  delicious  when  ripened  in  the 
house.  In  regard  to  the  use  of  ice,  I  would  say,  that,  where 
fruits  are  kept  for  some  months  under  its  influence  at  a  low 
temperature,  they  seem  to  lose  much  of  their  flavor :  the 
cellular  tissue  also  seems  to  have  become  dry,  and  to  have  lost 
its  vitalitv,  or  power  to  resume  the  ripening  process.  Expe- 
rience proves,  that,  for  the  common  varieties  of  the  pear,  about 
forty  degrees  of  Fahrenheit  is  the  temperature  best  suited  to 
hold  this  process  in  equilibrium.  Tlie  proper  maturing  of 
fruit  thus  preserved  demands  skill  and  science.  Different 
varieties  require  different  degrees  of  moisture  and  lieat  accord- 
ing to  the  firmness  of  the  skin,  the  texture  of  the  flesh, 
and  the  natural  activity  of  the  juices.  Thus  some  varieties 
of  tiie  pear  will  ripen  at  a  low  temperature  and  in  a  com- 
paratively dry  atmosphere,  wjiile  others  are  improved  b}^  a 
warm  and  humid  air.  Some  varieties  of  the  pear  ripening 
with  difficulty,  .and  formerly  esteemed  only  second-rate,  are 
now  pronounced  of  excellent  quality,  because  the  art  of 
maturing  them  is  better  understood.  Great  improvement 
has  taken  place  in  the  handling,  packing,  and  preservation  of 
fruits ;  so  that  they  are  delivered  in  perfect  condition  from 
distant  places,  ever}'  class  of  fruit  having  its  suitable  style  of 
package.  This  remark  also  applies  to  the  packing  of  trees 
for  foreign  countries  ;  so  that  trees  shipped  b}'  Ellwauger  & 
Barry,  Rochester,  N.Y.,  to  Australia,  after  one  hundred  and 
fifty-three  daj-s,  arrived  in  good  condition.  So  well  is  the  art 
of  keeping  grapes  now  understood,  that  we  have  the  Concord 
from  Fitchburg  and  other  towns  in  that  vicinity,  and  from 
New  Hampshire,  in  such  fine  order  as  to  command  twenty- 
five  cents  per  pound  in  December  and  January. 

The  pear-tree  blight  has  been  more  prevalent  in  several 
localities  around  Boston,  for  the  last  two  years,  than  ever 


21 

before,  and  we  are  as  much  in  the  dark  as  to  the  cause  and 
remedy  as  are  others ;  but  we  trust,  that,  like  former  visita- 
tions of  this  maladj%  it  will  prove  only  temporary.  In  some 
instances  the  apple  has  been  affected  in  the  same  manner. 

In  closing  this  Keport  I  beg  to  state  that  the  importance  of 
the  fruit-crop  of  Massachusetts  has  not  been  fully  appreci- 
ated. Of  the  apple  alone  the  returns  of  1874  gave  us  3,252,- 
057  bushels,  valued  at  $1,450,2  J2;  Worcester  County  having 
produced  in  the  same  year  933,013  bushels,  valued  at  $380,- 
000.  Similar  results  have  been  realized  in  other  sections  of 
the  State,  not  only  with  the  apple,  but  with  other  fruits. 

When  we  reflect  on  what  IVIassachusetts  has  done  for  tiie 
cause  of  American  pomology  in  the  last  half-century,  I  think 
we  should  feel  well  satisfied.  To  Massachusetts  the  world  is 
indebted  for  many  of  its  best  fruits.  There  is  the  Baldwin 
apple,  the  Iloxbury  Russet,  the  Williams  and  Hubbardston 
Nonesuch  apples,  and  the  Clapp's  Favorite,  Dana's  Hovey, 
and  other  pears.  Nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that  Massachu- 
setts was  the  first  to  introduce  from  Europe  the  Bartlett  and 
the  Beurre  d'Anjou  pears,  so  popular  throughout  the  whole 
country.  In  her  soil  originated  the  Hovey's  Seedling  straw- 
berry and  the  President  Wilder.  To  these  may  be  added 
the  Diana,  Rogers,  and  other  grapes,  and  last,  but  not  least, 
the  Concord,  which  has  overspread  our  hills  and  valleys  from 
one  end  of  tlie  continent  to  the  other.  Other  states  and 
societies  have  done  nobly ;  but  Massachusetts,  as  a  pioneer  in 
the  early  history  of  our  pomology,  has  wielded  a  strong  in- 
fluence. Strike  out  from  our  catalogues  the  fruits  which 
Massachusetts  has  introduced  from  Europe ;  root  out  from 
our  orchards,  gardens,  and  vineyards  the  fine  native  fruits 
which  have  originated  in  our  cold  and  rough  soil,  —  and  we 
should  require  a  long  list  of  valuable  kinds  to  fill  their 
place.  Massachusetts  has  more  good  fruits  stored  up  in  the 
laboratory  of  her  resources.  Her  mission  is  not  yet  ended. 
Let  us  help  her  to  fulfil  it. 


